Coyotes Sign Vitale to Three-Year Contract

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – Arizona Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Joe Vitale to a three-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Vitale

“We are very pleased to sign Joe to a multi-year contract,” said Maloney. “Joe is a character player who has many details in his game that we covet. He is quick, plays hard, is excellent in the faceoff circle and will help improve our penalty killing units.”

Last season, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Vitale recorded 1-13-14 and 29 penalty minutes (PIM) in 53 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also won 62.5-percent of his face offs and had 89 hits. Vitale also appeared in 13 Stanley Cup playoff games for the Penguins.

In parts of four NHL seasons with Pittsburgh, the 28-year-old native of St. Louis, Mo., has played in 176 regular season games, recording 8-27-35 and 119 PIM. He also has appeared in 23 playoff games, totaling 0-1-1 and 22 PIM.

Vitale was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the seventh round (195th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.